Not so much a beginner but after being out of the hobby for about 10 years alot has changed. The first thing I have done is gotten me a nice Simulator (Phoenix 5.5 with the DX6I transmitter). I have already gotten back into forward flight and some inverted stuff. The issue I am running into this time is what radio to buy. I am looking around the $200 to $250 range for a radio. I use to run JR everything but it seems as if JR is disappearing fast. So the first question is what transmitters should I start looking at?
As for Helis I am looking at the Align Trex 550 (not sure which exact model) or a Trex 600N. Any info you guys throw out would be awesome.

~~Enjoying the hobby one flight at a time~~

I am looking for maybe $200-$250ish. I would love to get me an older JR 9303 2.4. I think the DX6I is going to be the sim / drone radio only. I am looking at something a little bigger for my helis. I have always used larger radios in the past like the 9303 and 10X but I was out of the hobby when 2.4 came about.

Sorry...budget was meant as an "IF" check out used radios.

Seen plenty good deals in the classifieds.

Honestly,as great as JR 9303 was with a 2.4Hz module and "better" the 9503 with built in 2.4GHz, they are absolutely outdated given new features such as programmable switches, channel output, voice call out, telemetry to name a few as well as much lighter and not to be confused with "cheaper".

Yes, such features are not needed...but sure are nice.

The bottom line is it needs to feel good in your hands.

I went from JR8103 to DX9. No regrets.

Im sure you will find a great deal.

~~Enjoying the hobby one flight at a time~~

I like my DSMX native JR9503 Tx. It is way outdated because it doesn't do telemetry. I currently have Vbar Control and the full telemetry features. I am technical enough that I would check my ESC logs occasionally just to see that my batteries are still doing good enough, but really don't use telemetry except for the mAh counter instead of a timer. All I benefit from that is a longer flight time since I can see how much I have used. But other than that, I can fly with my old Tx and not really care.
Used 9503s should not cost that much.

I have a JR 9503X 2.4 radio that is hard to beat! Fits my hands perfectly.. I owned a DX9 Black for about a month and didn't like the feel at all.. I have a original DX7 that fits well too, never understood Spektrum on why they changed radio bodies so much.. they had it perfect from the start!